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The In-Betweeners
193 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2024
Khem Aryal’s stories are touching and powerful. The collection hums and buzzes with energy and heart. The issues that immigrants face on a daily basis, both institutionally and internally, are laid open so that the reader feels and experiences the struggle along with each character. “No matter where you live, you cannot forget who you are.” That quote reflects the theme of these stories and lets the reader know each one of us faces this everyday no matter our origin. Aryal writes with delicacy and skill and attention to detail. This timely collection is timeless.
January 5, 2026
When someone asks me where I am from, I always hesitate for a second before answering. This book contains almost all the emotions I feel during that 'pause'.
My dad served in the Army and throughout my schooling we moved places. Just when I was ready to adapt to the new friends and environment, we were on the move. Every 3 or 4 years my whole life shifted.
When I read the short stories in this book, I couldn't help but reminisce about my childhood and all those bottled up emotions came to the surface.
It is a collection of 13 short stories of Nepalese who moved to the U.S. to live their great American dream. How they could neither leave their own country behind completely nor could they accept their modern life in America.
The book kept getting better with every story. It showcases the normal, unfiltered life of the immigrants and how the American dream has ripped them off their own dreams, cultures and identities as a whole. How they don't feel entitled to basic rights in either country, just stuck 'in-between' the two places they call home.
The author hasn't sugar coated or even tried to make the stories sound complex. The stories seem mundane on the outside and that is what made them feel so personal.
Some stories were about people who were living luxuriously in Nepal and were struggling to make ends meet in the U.S, while others were a reflection of the choice they made and how they weren't sure about it even decades after the move.
It also made me realise how similar Nepal and India are in terms of culture, language, and day to day habits.
There was an instance where a child gets annoyed because his mom kept feeding him up to his throat, and his mom felt annoyed, like "This is the only way I can show you how much I love you, you little shit!😡"
I wish I could tell you more about the stories but I don't wanna give any spoilers! You gotta feel it. ❤️
If you love short stories, please give this a try. It is a beautiful book!
My dad served in the Army and throughout my schooling we moved places. Just when I was ready to adapt to the new friends and environment, we were on the move. Every 3 or 4 years my whole life shifted.
When I read the short stories in this book, I couldn't help but reminisce about my childhood and all those bottled up emotions came to the surface.
It is a collection of 13 short stories of Nepalese who moved to the U.S. to live their great American dream. How they could neither leave their own country behind completely nor could they accept their modern life in America.
The book kept getting better with every story. It showcases the normal, unfiltered life of the immigrants and how the American dream has ripped them off their own dreams, cultures and identities as a whole. How they don't feel entitled to basic rights in either country, just stuck 'in-between' the two places they call home.
The author hasn't sugar coated or even tried to make the stories sound complex. The stories seem mundane on the outside and that is what made them feel so personal.
Some stories were about people who were living luxuriously in Nepal and were struggling to make ends meet in the U.S, while others were a reflection of the choice they made and how they weren't sure about it even decades after the move.
It also made me realise how similar Nepal and India are in terms of culture, language, and day to day habits.
There was an instance where a child gets annoyed because his mom kept feeding him up to his throat, and his mom felt annoyed, like "This is the only way I can show you how much I love you, you little shit!😡"
I wish I could tell you more about the stories but I don't wanna give any spoilers! You gotta feel it. ❤️
If you love short stories, please give this a try. It is a beautiful book!
December 15, 2023
Electrifying book of short stories by Nepali writer Khem Aryal. What a brilliant study this is of how those who come to the U.S. have so much to face that most Americans never do and never think about. The tension between lives and exceptions from the "Old World" and the sometimes unfortunate realities of this new American one underlie every single piece here. What's wonderful is how while the theme might be consistent through, each story features different protagonists in different life situations. Every successive story feels brand new, made from scratch. That's quite an accomplishment. Great book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews